A multi-talented musician, composing piano studies that have stood the test of time, Muzio Clementi is an important figure in music history. He would be the influence of composers for following generations, including Beethoven.

             Muzio Clementi was born in Rome on January 23, 1752. He was the oldest of seven children and his father was a silversmith. Clementi"s muscial studies started when he was quite young, first under the mentorship of Antonio Buroni, then Cordicelli, Giuseppi Santarelli, and possibly Gaetano Carpani (Bower 484). He became the church organist for S Lorezno in Damaso in 1766. That same year, Clementi caught the ear of an English traveler, Peter Beckford, who himself said that he 'bought Clementi of his father for seven years" (Bower 485). Beckford took Clementi to his home estate in Dorset, where he stayed for the next seven years studying the harpsichord. During this time and before age 22, he possibly wrote a mass and oratorio, as well as eight keyboard sonatas (Bower 485).

             In 1774, Clementi moved to London where he made his first known public appearance as a harpsichordist. He made few concert appearances after that, until the popularity of his sonatas op.2 arose from 1779 to 1780. Clementi wrote nine more accompanied sonatas and three keyboard duets. A satirical musical lexicon of the time, ABC Dario Musico, suggests that Clementi performed some of these pieces in public:.

             "CLEMENTI. An Italian. Has composed some setts of lessons, which abound in passages so peculiar and difficult, that it is evident they must have been practised for years preceding their publication. We particularly allude to the succession of octaves with which he has crammed his lessons. Mr. C. executes these exceedingly well, and is a most brilliant performer" (Bower 485).

             He and Mozart performed at the famous piano contest in Vienna for the emperor in 1780. They both were to improvise on selections from their own compositions.